Economic Growth Australia Project #54268

Transition 43 women from welfare to work

by Dress for Success New South Wales & Australian Capital Territory

Project Report | Oct 30, 2023
Changing women's lives, one woman at a time

By Amelia Lawrence | Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships

Our showrooms make transformations happen

“I feel powerful, worthy, and ready to take on the challenges that my new job will throw my way.”

You may have heard of Dress for Success’s signature styling service, where women looking to enter or re-enter the workforce are expertly styled in gently, pre-loved donated clothing.

In case you haven’t, Dress for Success is a global not for profit that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help them thrive in work and in life. The global brand is made up of 145 affiliates in 23 countries, with each Affiliate largely powered by volunteers.

The brand is growing in Australia and since 2009, Dress for Success NSW & ACT has supported more than 17,000 women get back on their feet and into the workforce.

Clients from all walks of life

Headquartered in the Inner West Sustainability Hub in Summer Hill, many women overcome a great deal even before walking through the doors.

Dress for Success NSW & ACT clients come from all walks of life, and many experienced various traumas, including poverty, discrimination, or abuse. Clients include young women from at risk of disengaging from education, single mums struggling to provide for their families, mature women who lack adequate levels of superannuation and savings and are at risk of living in poverty, women exiting corrective facilities, domestic violence survivors, women with disabilities, and newly arrived migrants, asylum seekers and refugees.

Women are referred to Dress for Success by friends, colleagues, employment agencies, migrant services, Indigenous services, disability service providers, social workers, as well as a diverse range of charities including Vinnies, Wesley Mission and Youth Off the Streets, schools and other social agencies and community groups.

Dress for Success NSW & ACT’s programs provide donated work clothing, mentoring, job-search skills, career coaching, and networking at no cost to the women using the services.

Due to the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, in the last 3 years Dress for Success NSW & ACT has seen an increase in demand for their services.

Every year Dress for Success NSW & ACT supports more than 2,500 women across metropolitan, regional, and rural locations into economic independence. They support women in their journey to enter, or re-enter the workforce, and increase female workforce participation by instilling confidence, building resilience, and restoring dignity to the women they support.

Sustainable fashion

All items of clothing Dress for Success NSW& ACT provides to women have been generously donated to their service. Brand new and pre-loved items can be donated by individuals, groups, corporate partners, or brands, to ensure they find a new home.

Dress for Success has a fully sustainable clothing donation model, which ensures that the women they support are prioritised while also making sure the organisation is not contributing to landfill when unused items are moved on to new homes.

Expanding reach

Dress for Success NSW & ACT is on a mission to help unemployed and underemployed women achieve economic independence.

However, without consistent government funding, the organisation relies on generous donations from fundraising campaigns and revenue from pop-up fashion sales to fund operations and develop innovative programming: Career Coaching provides women that need additional support with 6 one-hour sessions from a professional career coach; Virtual Styling provides women in regional NSW and the ACT with work-appropriate clothing; and the newly launched Career Hub allows access to on-demand workshops and resources 24/7, anywhere in Australia (dfscareerhub.org.au).

Accessing services

Dress for Success NSW & ACT’s programs and services are available to any woman across NSW and the ACT wanting to enter or reenter the workforce. They offer styling and presentation skills (in-person and virtually) and a holistic suite of workshops and one-on-one services (resume reviews and mock interviews). To get started, visit: dfsnswact.org.au/about#Services.

They also work with affiliates across Australia to support women into employment across the country. For details of other Australian Dress for Success showrooms visit dfsnswact.org.au/about#Australia.

Get involved

To learn more about Dress for Success and to get involved, please visit: nswact.dressforsuccess.org/get-involved

Our showrooms make transformations happen

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Jul 3, 2023
Changing women's lives, one woman at a time

By Amelia Lawrence | Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships

Thank you for empowering women like Marina

Many women looking for work face bias.They create opportunities where they can. But discrimination, stereotyping, and exclusion can leave them feeling discouraged and without confidence. Gender equality is an urgent issue, and your support for disadvantaged women is something we are grateful for every single day.

At Dress for Success Sydney, we believe that a woman’s disadvantage should not mean her unemployment. When we talk about disadvantaged women, we think of women like Marina, who decided in her 50s to follow her children from Mexico to Australia and start a new life. She had been a Kindergarten teacher for many years, shaping the minds of young children.

Marina’s job became unsustainable and she was made redundant, which meant her housing situation collapsed and she faced homelessness. Away from the family and community she knew, Marina felt alone in Australia.

Once a poised professional, the blow to her self-esteem and confidence following redundancy was making the job hunt a challenge and distressing.

“I didn’t feel employable or capable. I had lost my confidence, and my experiences at work with previous managers wasn’t helping me at all.”

Many women looking for work feel unemployable. Your support for our work changes these women's lives for the better.

This all changed when Marina discovered Dress for Success Sydney’s workshops which allowed Marina to connect with women from all walks of life, to reassure her she wasn’t alone. “It showed me other women who were struggling, who had also been employed with good jobs in their home countries.”

Through the sessions, Marina built up her confidence through building community. The process reaffirmed Marina’s self-worth and changed her approach towards her career and life. This support also led to multiple interviews, one of which soon became her permanent full-time role.

Many women like Marina have been put in a precarious financial situation due to factors beyond their control. We continue to provide practical support for women seeking employment to overcome any barriers faced when rebuilding their careers.

When women work, families thrive and our whole community prospers.

Marina is now thriving in her new job, which she plans to keep until retirement. “Thanks to Dress for Success I was able to be confident and have the clarity of what path to take. People in Dress for Success believed in me when I was not believing in me; their support was paramount for my career change and to achieve and land the role I have now... I am very fortunate and very thankful.”

You can hear Marina talk about how support like yours changed her life at our YouTube page.

Thank you for being a part of this journey with us, to change the lives of even more women like Marina. We couldn't do it without you.

Our Sydney showroom, where transformation happens

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Mar 5, 2023
What does 1 hour mean to you?

By Amelia Lawrence | Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships

No woman ever chooses to be vulnerable. But right now, the rising costs of living are leaving people in situations they have never before experienced.

Women like Naima, come to Dress for Success when they are ready to start their next chapter, but the barriers to getting there seem overwhelming.

But with the support of caring people like you, they can discover fresh hope and new beginnings.

This International Women’s Day, we want to empower every woman who needs help, with courage and confidence to move forward.

Simply by giving one hour of your pay today, you can transform her entire future.

Your one hour can impact the rest of her life!

Naima arrived in Australia as a young asylum seeker from Kenya. She was already a survivor of war in Somalia and had lived a life that many people born in Australia could never imagine.

But after arriving in Australia, Naima found herself homeless and then became pregnant.

When Naima was ready to find employment, she found herself without the appropriate clothes and didn’t have money to buy anything other than essentials for her baby. That's when she found Dress for Success.

“When the stylist came over to help me, I broke down and cried. She told me that I was in a safe place,” said Naima.

It’s because of compassionate supporters like you Michael, that Naima had her entire life transformed that day.

Naima left Dress for Success with clothing and accessories for an entire week of work.

“They were not just shopping bags to me, they meant so much more,” she said.

You can empower a woman to change her future today, simply by giving her just one hour of your salary.

Nobody’s circumstances should hold them back from going after their goals and dreams.

Naima’s life has changed so much from when she first walked into Dress For Success. She has a job that she loves, and it allows her the flexibility to be home with her family at night for dinner.

She is passionate about paying it forward and helping other women needing support, just like she needed it.

International Women’s Day is on the 8th of March. Please give one hour to support vulnerable women everywhere.

Thank you for your being part of this strong community supporting women. Thank you for transforming lives.

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